Ba Goes to Chelsea, Leaves a Gap at Newcastle

Julian Finney/Getty Images

After his goalscoring exploits at St James’ Park, Demba Ba’s buyout clause became an open secret in the football world.

With the striker available for a bargain £7 million, it was obvious that sooner rather than later, a club would make a move for Ba. It was Chelsea who eventually took the plunge, as they sought to find a striker to provide competition for the misfiring Fernando Torres.

As much as Newcastle will miss Ba, they are in the fortunate position of already having his replacement at the club. Alan Pardew has struggled all season to find a way of combining the talents of Ba and Papiss Cisse, with each striker preferring to play alone rather than as one of a pair.

Now that Ba has gone, Pardew has the opportunity to play Cisse centrally and, ideally, buy a striker that can play through the middle when needed but is equally happy on the flanks.

Marseille’s Loic Remy would fit the bill and has been linked with a move to the northeast of England by the Daily Mirror.

Can Arsenal Persuade Walcott to Sign?

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Whoever is in charge of player contracts at Arsenal should count himself lucky if his own is renewed.

Time after time, Arsenal have allowed their star performers’ contracts to run down, putting themselves in situations in which they have to consider selling their prize assets rather than losing them for nothing.

The latest player that Arsenal are struggling to keep hold of is Theo Walcott.

The England international wants a pay rise and assurances that he will be played as a striker, rather than out on the wing.

Walcott’s form of late looks like it will be enough to persuade Arsenal to offer the forward the contract he wants. If they fail to come to an agreement, then you can bet that the Premier League’s top sides will look to strip Arsenal of another top player.

Where Will Beckham Go Next?

Harry How/Getty Images

David Beckham left the L.A. Galaxy last year, and since then there has been endless speculation as to where the England legend will play next.

It seems unlikely that Beckham will return to the Premier League. Paris St Germain have been linked with a move by Metro that would see Beckham make a return to the Champions League, while there has also been talk of a move to such far-flung locations as China, Qatar and Australia.

Mrs. Beckham will surely have a big say as to where David goes next, so I’d be putting my money on a move to Paris rather than embracing another "brave new world."

Who Will Replace Frank Lampard?

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea contract will expire in the summer, and as yet the player hasn’t come to an agreement with the club for a new deal.

It looks as though Lampard will soon be moving on, raising two big questions: Where will Lampard go next, and who will replace him?

Lampard has been linked with moves to rival Premier League clubs, European giants and the MLS. When the Chelsea legend departs, he will leave big boots to fill. Chelsea have been rumoured by the Daily Mail to be watching Everton’s Marouanne Fellaini.

What Next for Super Mario?

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

It seems that Mario Balotelli has finally run out of lives at Manchester City. The Italian striker’s eventful stay at City looks like it will come to an end, after he was pictured having a physical disagreement with his manager, Roberto Mancini.

Balotelli was famously once pictured wearing an A.C. Milan shirt and, The Independent claim that the Rossoneri are the favourites to buy the erratic striker for a cool £25 million.

Who Will Buy the World’s Deadliest Striker?

While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo blur the traditional boundaries between midfield and striker, one La Liga frontman is resolutely committed to the traditional business of goal-poaching.

Radamel Falcao is the most wanted striker in the world. It was heavily rumoured that Chelsea would make a January move for the Columbian, but the London club eventually signed the much cheaper Demba Ba.

Now the consensus of opinion seems to be that Falcao will move across Madrid to join Real (per Marca,com).

Together, Ronaldo and Falcao could be the deadliest combination in world football.